Possible Happiness
Reviewed By Ian Banks September 25, 2024
Author David Ebenbach
Distributor: Amazon
ISBN: 978-1646035021
Publisher: Fitzroy Books
Release Date: September 2024
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David Ebenbach takes to task the challenging years of growing up in Possible Happiness with his lovable and yet completely abstract character Jacob Wasserman, who is as the weeks pass, every mother’s son and every fathers pride and joy – well that is on his good days.
Jacob is a bit of mystery, even to himself as he crashes, hormones and all into the tumultuous years of discovering the opposite sex, discovering sex, discovering friends and not so nice friends, poking at the rules, life in general and just about everything
He has always been a bit of loner, happy in his own space, and has hidden talent as a bit of comedian. He also suffers from depression, which is not at all helpful in his new role as a member of a group of friends- something he has never had before or been.
This quirky, relatable and immensely enjoyable coming of age story hits on some highly topical subjects, as Jacob and his first girlfriend, fall out of favour with each other, then he with the group of ‘friends’ due to his now ex-girlfriend, spreading rumours about his sexuality and his personality.
His parents are divorced, his sister is his anchor, being two years older and wiser and his Mother, a hard working nurse, tries her best to steer him down the adolescent pathway with as little damage as possible – not an easy task.
Lovable, frustrating, gentle and easily understood, Jacob sees his chance at finding happiness fading into the future, as he is ostracised from his peers, his new girlfriend kind of gets him and his reluctant visit to a psychologist ended in sobbing uncontrollably!
Ebenbach, in the last chapters uses the metaphor of a train journey to relate to Jacobs current life journey as he leaves his friend at the station and decides that no matter what, he will remain on the train! Funny, quirky, at times heartbreaking and wonderfully warm, Possible happiness is a generous and enjoyable YA read, for any young person wondering what life really does or can hold throughout the throughout the tumultuous years of adolescence.